1998 Toyota Aristo, Vertex Edition JZS161

Privacy tint adorns the windows as well, to keep any harsh rays or lookie-loos from peeking inside. Power seats are standard up front, and the driver gains access to an electric tilt and telescoping steering column to dial in an ideal driving position. The center stack frames Toyota’s EMV touchscreen, which is surprisingly responsive and integrates additional controls for the audio and HVAC. The sound quality is surprisingly decent from the factory JBL audio too. The rear bench is spacious, and the remaining interior materials are clean, from the headliner to the carpets beneath, which have been protected by factory carpet mats. An OEM trunk mat is a rare find, and save for inoperable rear door speakers, it’s really hard to go wrong with this cockpit. Under the hood, the 2JZ-GTE stands loud and proud and has been completely unmodified since new. That’s not to say it’s a slouch, as this vehicle was staff-owned and expertly maintained here at the dealership with a new timing belt, water pump, cam seals, front main seal, and VVT-i gear rebuild. The 3.0TT cranks over with haste and settles into a smooth idle. New valve cover gaskets were installed to shore up any unwanted oil leaks, and we performed a coolant flush to ensure the 2JZ keeps temperatures in check. With the maintenance performed, this sport sedan rips up to highway speeds with ease, and we resealed the transmission pan to keep the automatic box in tip-top shape. Power is sent rearward, and the Fortune Auto coilovers are surprisingly comfortable for daily driving. We bolstered the suspension with new rear upper control arms, and ARS arms, and the power steering benefits from new rack bushings. The ABS brakes bite hard, and last but not least we performed a fresh alignment to ensure this Aristo is turn-key and ready to drive straight into your driveway!